CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE
INTRODUCTION 9
1 LUCKY SCORING GAMES 11
A Potpourri of Simple Games 11
Even Minus Odd 12, Moulting 12, Black and White 13
Seven up 13, Eleven up 13, Put and Take 14
Barbudi 15, Family Barbudi 15
Going to Boston 16, Boston 16, Multiplication 17
Hearts Due 17, Straight Shooter 17
Round the Spot 18
Drop Dead 19
Countdown 20, Target 100 20, Double Charlotte 21
Va Banque 21, Banker 21
Ninety-Nine 22, Twenty-Three 23
Hit One Number 23
Matches 23
Buck Dice 24, Bugs 25
Thunderstorm 26
Roller Coaster 27
Cover All the Numbers 28
Chicago 28, Little Mary 30
Centennial 30, One to Twenty 32, Everest 32
Jule 33, Quiet Jule 33, Cow Tail 33, Ox Tail 34,
Voyage to Australia 34
Beetle 35
Spider 37, Great Heart 38, The Hut Game 39,
Easy Come — Easy Go 39
2 LUCKY COUNTER GAMES 40
Give and Take 40
Zeppelin 41, Lighthouse 42
Hungry Jack 42
Jackpot 43
Dosh 46
Help Your Neighbour 48, The Tower 49
Left, Right and Centre 49
Bouncer 49
Tit for Tat 51
1 Left, 2 Right, 6 in the Pot 52
Pig Drive 53
Aces in the Pot 54, Stake 55
Sweeper 55
Aces 56
King and Neighbour 57
3 THE THEORY OF DICE 59
The Theory of One Die 59
The Theory of Two or More Dice 62
4 BETTING GAMES 68
Know Your Odds 68
Bet and Throw Once 73
Under and Over Seven 73
Dice Roulette 75
Chuck-a-Luck 77
Grand Hazard 80
Bet and Throw Until Decided 83
Private Craps 83, Bank Craps 90
My Aunt — Your Aunt 94, The Swing 95
Throw versus Throw 95
High Dice 96, Lansquenet 98
Klondike 100
5 PROGRESSION GAMES 103
Qualify and Progress 103
Ship, Captain, Mate and Crew 104, The Family Jones 105
Par 106, Five High Dice 109, Qualify 109
Personal Progress 110
Sequence 110
Throwing Sevens 113, Sevens 115, Barmbek 116,
Golden Seven 116
Result versus Result 117
Chicago 117
Mexico 119
Poker Dice 122, Equal or Quit 125, indian Dice 126
6 JEOPARDY GAMES 127
On your Own Head 127
Pig 128, Big Pig 130
Ten Thousand 131
Head to Head 136
Macao 137, Pontoon 140
Sixteen 140
Octo 143, Poker Hunt 147
7 CATEGORY GAMES 148
Dice Combinations 148
Crag 149
Hooligan 151, Ohio 154
General 155,
Hindenburg 158, Cameroon 159, Double Cameroon 159,
Yacht 160, Yahtzee 162, Cheerio 162, Yam 162
Killer 164
Six Hundred 167, Thirty-Six 171
Numbers and Totals 173
Shut the Box 173
House Numbers 176, Street Numbers 177,
Mr. Postman 178, Thousand 179
Game of Six 180, Toto 181, Multego 181, Bursar 182
Criss-Cross 182, Criss and Cross 186,
Criss versus Cross 186
Category versus Category 187
Catego 187, Partnership Catego 189
Counter-Cameroon 190, Powerplay 192
East-West 193, Doubling Die 195
8 BLUFFING GAMES 196
Shared Dice 196
Little Max 197
Double or Quits 200
Liar Dice 204, Six-Six-Six 207,
Paired Liar Dice 207, Double Liar Dice 209
individual Dice 209
Mice and Men 210, Rats! 213
Dice Poker 213,
Draw Dice Poker 217, Stud Dice Poker 218,
Shared Dice Poker 219, Six Dice Poker 219
Dudo 220
INDEX OF GAMES 223

INTRODUCTION
Welcome to the world of dice games!
l)ice are amongst the oldest of all playing forms. At the origin
of civilisation, more than 5,000 years ago in the fertile plains of
Tigris and Euphrates, people were already enjoying the charms
of playing dice. Whilst civilisations have passed, the timeless
lascination of dice games remains.
All dice games fall into two principal categories. Games of
luck with no control over the outcome, and games of influence
where you determine your destiny. The two categories have
different appeals, but both are equally entertaining.
The first four chapters of this book are devoted to games of
luck. Chapters l and 2 present a variety of popular family and
pub games. Chapter 3 briefly explains the theory of dice, which
is then applied in chapter 4 to betting games from casinos.
The second half of the book covers games of influence.
Chapters 5 and 6 present progression and jeopardy games:
improve your results or lose it all. Chapter 7 describes strategic
category games. Some of the world’s most fascinating dice
games are among them. Finally, chapter 8 contains a thrilling
selection of bluffing games, a cracker for every party.
All the games are properly explained in detail, with many
hints on how to play best. You will find all the popular
traditional games, many variants and even some new original
rules. All great fun and stimulating entertainment. Enjoy!
Just a few general remarks before the games begin:
Many rules simply state that one player begins and that play
progresses clockwise thereafter. The proper way to determine
who goes first, of course, is by throwing the dice. Each player
throws the dice once, and the player with the highest total
begins. In some games the playing order is of great importance.
If you want to go further, the player with the second highest
result sits to the left of the opening player, and so forth.
Where the games are based on individual rounds with a
different player going first each time, it is a good idea to use an
object like a lucky charm placed in front of the opening player.
This contributes to the clarity of the game.
The rules mention dice cups only where they are essential for
the play. lt is good style, however, to throw the dice from a cup
whatever the game. It creates a nice atmosphere and prevents
players from attempting to cheat.
If your throw produces some dice not lying straight or stacked
on top of each other, repeat the entire throw to obtain a valid
result. Otherwise every throw stands. Do not shed tears over
throws of the past, roll again!
Dice games come in many variations, with regional differences
and varying names. This book gives an overview of what is out
there for you to play. Pick and choose the games you like. Study
the tactical hints and strategic directions to improve your play.
Follow the remarks regarding the various playing and scoring
principles if you strive for a broader understanding of dice
games. But above all, have fun with the games!
I would like to express my gratitude to Kevin Jacklin and Iain
Adams for proof-reading the manuscript and for all the valuable
discussions on style and strategy that shaped this book.
So many games to play, so little time.